Ill stop answering and start asking.

My problem is my surly rear hub. It's the oder one ("Surly New Hub") with the angled cartridge bearings (7901) where you have to adjust the bearing pre-load. I can adjust the bearing fine to where there is no noticeable play and the hub spins smoothly. I adjust the bearing by first tightening the locknut on one side, then securing that side of the wheel either in frame on on a spare fork I have (I don't have axle vice, so I use this to immobilize the axle) and the adjust the other side, then tighten the locknut. However, when I put the wheel on the bike and tighten the axle nuts, the pre-load increases so much that what was butta smooth becomes really sticky. Even if I leave a bit of play to the bearing, tightening the axle nuts also tightens the bearing. So I need to leave quite a bit of play there and so far have not managed to leave just the right amount so that tightening the axle nuts would get rid of the play but not overtighten the bearing.

My questions:

1. Why does this happen? Isn't the locknut supposed to lock the bearing? I've heard that a QR might compress the axle a bit but on a bolt on axle?

2. Do you have experience with the "Surly Ultra New Hubs" which use the regular 6901 cartridge bearing and have shouldered axle? Would I get better results if I just bought the innards of the new design (the hub shells are identical according to Surly)?

About the Ultra New Hubs: http://surlybikes.com/blog/post/were...u_up_hub_style